# Static file handling
## Individual file
It is possible to serve static files with a custom path pattern and `NamedFile`. To
match a path tail, we can use a `[.*]` regex.
```rust
# extern crate actix_web;
use std::path::PathBuf;
use actix_web::{App, HttpRequest, Result, http::Method, fs::NamedFile};
fn index(req: HttpRequest) -> Result<NamedFile> {
let path: PathBuf = req.match_info().query("tail")?;
Ok(NamedFile::open(path)?)
}
fn main() {
App::new()
.resource(r"/a/{tail:.*}", |r| r.method(Method::GET).f(index))
.finish();
}
```
## Directory
To serve files from specific directories and sub-directories, `StaticFiles` can be used.
`StaticFiles` must be registered with an `App::handler()` method, otherwise
it will be unable to serve sub-paths.
```rust
# extern crate actix_web;
use actix_web::*;
fn main() {
App::new()
.handler(
"/static",
fs::StaticFiles::new(".")
.show_files_listing())
.finish();
}
```
The parameter is the base directory. By default files listing for sub-directories
is disabled. Attempt to load directory listing will return *404 Not Found* response.
To enable files listing, use
[*StaticFiles::show_files_listing()*](../actix_web/s/struct.StaticFiles.html#method.show_files_listing)
method.
Instead of showing files listing for directory, it is possible to redirect
to a specific index file. Use the
[*StaticFiles::index_file()*](../actix_web/s/struct.StaticFiles.html#method.index_file)
method to configure this redirect.